When to Take a Risk

by Terry Muck

Publishers:

Christianity Today; Word

, 1987

Overview

Making decisions without destruction

Does leading a church set up an impossible choice between running an efficient, well-maintained program and being sensitive to the needs of suffering people? Can one leader do both?

For many leaders, the answer is not clear. Especially in days when the conflicting demands of institution and individual whipsaw pastors back and forth between office and hospital, altar and pew, management and pastoral care. On top of it all, they are called to pronounce theological blessing or anathema on any knotty question that confronts the body of Christ.

This book offers a four-step approach to decision making that helps local church leaders become versatile servants of God, translating timeless theological truth into everyday life situations. Using the concepts of risk-taking theory, the author shows how to unravel the confusing diversity of modern church life and approach each situation with wisdom and confidence.

Ministers tell stories of the most difficult decisions that they have faced and how they dealt with each. The successes and failures illustrate the high stakes of ministry—and its crucial importance. God gives strength to face the demands of ministry; but he calls leaders to take some risks of obedience along the way.

This is the ninth volume of THE LEADERSHIP LIBRARY, a continuing series from LEADERSHIP, the practical journal for church leaders published by Christianity Today, Inc. Others in the series have included Well-Intentioned Dragons, Liberating the Leaders Prayer Life, and Learning to Lead.

More than a collection of theory, THE LEADERSHIP LIBRARY provides practical, proven ways to handle the most difficult areas of everyday church life.

Contents

Top Highlights

“Obedience cannot be understood without understanding the standard by which it is measured. For Christian obedience, the standard is not first of all a list of ethical or moral laws (though those have their place). The standard is God’s will for us. Christian obedience asks us to do what God says even though it may be something we would never have thought of doing.” (Pages 63–64)

“‘Living on the edge of life’ is one way to define risk. Risk taking occurs when we put our reputation, beliefs, financial security, personal well-being, or even our lives on the line. We may do so simply for the thrill. Or we may do so in the hopes of achieving some higher goal—as Samuel Johnson said, ‘to risk the certainty of little for the chance of much.’” (Page 9)

“‘I usually ask myself, ‘Is this decision good for the church’s organization and efficiency, or is it good for the church’s maturity and the growth of the body of Christ? If it’s mainly for efficiency, I tend to choose for the individual—we can be very inefficient at times.” (Page 45)

“Forgiveness does indeed solve interpersonal problems. It only takes people willing to risk themselves, their feelings, and their time in order to see that it happens.” (Page 96)

“The body of Christ has a higher priority than my career; I cannot make decisions that will harm the ministry. I” (Page 102)

Product Details

• Title: When to Take a Risk
• Author: Terry C. Muck
• Publisher: CTi, Word Books
• Publication Date: 1987

About Terry Muck

Terry Muck is dean of the E. Stanley Jones School of World Mission and Evangelism and professor of Mission and World Religion. He began teaching at Asbury Theological Seminary in 2000. He received a BA from Bethel College; a MDiv from Bethel Theological Seminary; a MBA from National College of Education; and a PhD from Northwestern University. Muck is a frequent preacher and speaker at churches, primarily addressing the relationship of Christianity and Christians to the world’s religions. He has published 10 books, including his most recent Christianity Encounters the World Religions.